For the operation of the department of housing and community development; provided further, that notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the department of housing and community development may conduct annual verifications of household income levels based upon state tax returns for the purposes of administering the state and federal housing subsidy programs funded in items 7004-9005, 7004-9009, 7004-9014, 7004-9019, 7004-9020, 7004-9024, 7004-9030, 7004-9033, and 7004-9316; provided, however, that as a condition of eligibility or continued occupancy by an applicant or a tenant, said department may require disclosure of the social security number of an applicant or tenant and members of such applicant's or tenant's household for use in verification of income eligibility; provided further, that said department is hereby authorized to deny or terminate participation in subsidy programs for failure by an applicant or a tenant to provide a social security number for use in verification of income eligibility; provided further, that said department also may consult with the department of revenue, the department of transitional assistance, or any other state or federal agency which it deems necessary to conduct such income verification; provided further, that notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, such state agencies shall consult and cooperate with said department and furnish any information in the possession of said agencies including, but not limited to, tax returns and applications for public assistance or financial aid; provided further, that for the purposes of conducting such income verification, the director of housing and community development may enter into an interdepartmental service agreement with the commissioner of revenue to utilize the department of revenue's wage reporting and bank match system for the purpose of verifying the income and eligibility of participants in such federally assisted housing programs and that of members of the participants' households; and provided further, that the department shall expend $200,000 on technical assistance for smart growth administration

For a home ownership opportunity affordable housing program; provided, that all sums appropriated herein shall be used to write down interest rates on soft second mortgage loans for low and moderate income first-time home buyers

For housing services and counseling, including mediation and case management services for families who are homeless or at-risk; provided, that funds shall be expended as grants for the operation of nine regional housing consumer education centers operated by the regional nonprofit housing agencies

For a tenancy preservation program for neutral party consultation services in eviction cases before the housing court department of the Massachusetts trial court for individuals with disabilities and families that contain an individual with a disability in cases where such disability is directly related to the reason for eviction

For a service coordinators program to assist tenants residing in housing developed pursuant to sections 39 and 40 of chapter 121B of the General Laws to meet tenancy requirements in order to maintain and enhance the quality of life in said housing

For subsidies to public housing authorities and non-profit organizations for deficiencies caused by certain reduced rentals in housing for the elderly, handicapped, veterans, and relocated persons pursuant to sections 32 and 40 of chapter 121B of the General Laws; provided, that notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, all housing authorities operating elderly public housing shall offer first preference for elderly public housing units which are vacant as of the effective date of this act, and thereafter, to those persons 60 years of age or older on June 30, 2006, then receiving rental assistance from the Massachusetts rental voucher program; provided further, that the department of housing and community development shall enforce compliance by local housing authorities with said provisions and is hereby authorized to take such actions as it deems necessary, including requiring regular, current reports by housing authorities and non-profit organizations operating such public housing, to ensure compliance in a timely and equitable manner; provided further, that said department may expend funds appropriated herein for deficiencies caused by certain reduced rentals which may be anticipated in the operation of housing authorities for the first quarter of the subsequent fiscal year; provided further, that no funds shall be expended from this item in the AA object class for the compensation of state employees; provided further, that the amount appropriated herein shall be deemed to meet any and all obligations pursuant to said sections 32 and 40 of said chapter 121B; provided further, that any new reduced rental units developed in fiscal year 2007 eligible for subsidies pursuant to this item shall not result in an annualized rate of spending in fiscal year 2007 which exceeds the amount appropriated herein; and provided further, that all funds in excess of normal utilities, operations, and maintenance costs may be expended for capital repairs

For a program of rental assistance for low-income families and elderly persons through mobile and project-based vouchers, to be known as the Massachusetts rental voucher program; provided, that the income of the participating households shall not exceed 200 per cent of the federal poverty level; provided further, that the department of housing and community development may award mobile vouchers to eligible households currently occupying project-based units that shall expire due to the non-renewal of project-based rental assistance contracts; provided further, that on a case-by-case basis said department shall use all otherwise available funds appropriated herein to increase the rental subsidy at eligible project-based developments, so-called; provided further, that the department, as a condition of continued eligibility for vouchers and voucher payments, may require disclosure of social security numbers by participants and members of participants' households in the Massachusetts rental voucher program for use in verification of income with other agencies, departments, and executive offices; provided further, that any household in which a participant or member of a participant's household shall fail to provide a social security number for use in verifying the household's income and eligibility shall no longer be eligible for a voucher or to receive benefits from the voucher program; provided further, that the vouchers shall be in varying dollar amounts and shall be set by the department based on considerations including but not limited to family size, composition, income level, and geographic location; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, rent surveys shall not be required for use in determining the amounts of the mobile or project-based vouchers; provided further, that any household which is proven to have caused intentional damage to their rental unit shall be terminated from the program; provided further, that the department shall pay agencies $40 per voucher per month for the costs of administering the program; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be no maximum percentage applicable to the amount of income paid for rent by each household holding a mobile or project-based voucher, but each household shall pay at least 30 per cent of its income as rent; provided further, that the department shall establish the amounts of the mobile vouchers and the project-based vouchers, so that the appropriation in this item is not exceeded by payments for rental assistance and administration; provided further, that the department shall not enter into commitments which will cause it to exceed the appropriation set forth herein; provided further, that households holding mobile vouchers shall have priority for occupancy of the project-based dwelling units in the event of a vacancy; provided further, that the department shall impose certain obligations for each participant in the Massachusetts rental voucher program through a 12-month contract which shall be executed by the participant and the department; provided further, that such obligations may include but need not be limited to job training, counseling, household budgeting, and education, as defined in regulations promulgated by the department and to the extent such programs are available; provided further, that each participant shall be required to undertake and meet any such contractually established obligation as a condition for continued eligibility in the program; provided further, that for continued eligibility each participant shall execute any such 12-month contract on or before September 1, 2006 if his annual eligibility recertification date occurs between June 30, 2006 and September 1, 2007 and otherwise on or before his annual eligibility re-certification date; provided further, that the local administering agency shall re-determine each household's income and voucher value at six-month intervals; provided further, that commencing July 1, 2006, local administering agencies shall terminate any household which receives 36 consecutive months of assistance; provided further, that in no case shall any household receive assistance for a life-time total of more than 60 months; provided further, that each adult household member, other than a full-time student, shall fulfill a weekly work requirement; provided further, that said member shall meet the work requirement according to the provisions as stated in subsection (d) of section 7 of chapter 118B of the General Laws, as inserted by section 58 of this act; provided further, that said work requirements shall include, but not be limited to, the following work schedule: 20 hours per week where the youngest household member has attained the age of one year but is less than six years of age, 24 hours per week where the youngest household member has attained the age of six years but is less than nine years of age, and 30 hours per week where the youngest household member has attained the age of nine years; provided further, that said work activities may include, but need not be limited to: working in a paid job, working full-time in the full employment program, participating in the supported work program, participating in the community service program, participating in a department of housing and community development or department of transitional assistance approved education and training activity, and participating in a housing search if said adult household member is currently receiving emergency shelter; provided further, that any participant who is over the age of 60 years or who is disabled may be exempted from any obligations unsuitable under particular circumstances; provided further, that no funds shall be expended from this item for the compensation of state employees; and provided further, that the department of housing and community development shall strive to avoid a reduction in the value of the Massachusetts rental voucher from its value as of June 30, 2006

For the transitional rental assistance program established pursuant to chapter 179 of the acts of 1995; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the transitional rental assistance shall be in the form of mobile vouchers; provided further, that the vouchers shall be in varying amounts and set by the department based on considerations including, but not limited to, household size, composition, household income, and geographic location; provided further, that any household which is proven to have caused intentional damage to its rental unit shall be terminated from the program; provided further, that the department shall pay agencies that administer said program an allowance not to exceed $32.50 per voucher per month for the costs of administration; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be no maximum percentage applicable to the amount of income paid for rent by each household holding a mobile voucher, but each household shall be required to pay not less than 25 per cent of its net income, as defined in regulations promulgated by the department, for units if utilities are not provided by the unit owner, or not less than 30 per cent of its income for units if utilities are provided by the unit owner; provided further, that payments for the transitional rental assistance may be provided in advance; provided further, that the department shall establish the amounts of the mobile vouchers, so that the appropriation herein is not exceeded by payments for rental assistance and administration; provided further, that the department shall not enter into commitments which will cause it to exceed the appropriation set forth herein; provided further, that the amount of a rental assistance voucher payment for an eligible household shall not exceed the rent less the household's minimum rent obligation; provided further, that the word "rent" as used in this item shall mean payments to the landlord or owner of a dwelling unit pursuant to a lease or other agreement for a tenant's occupancy of the dwelling unit, but shall not include payments made by the tenant separately for the cost of heat, cooking fuel, and electricity; provided further, that the department shall submit an annual report to the budget director, the secretary of administration and finance, and the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing expenditures, the number of outstanding rental vouchers, and the number and types of units leased; provided further, that nothing stated herein shall give rise to or shall be construed as giving rise to enforceable legal rights in any party or an enforceable entitlement to any form of housing; and provided further, that consistent with said chapter 179 the amount appropriated herein shall not annualize to more than $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2008

For rental subsidies to eligible clients of the department of mental health; provided, that the department of housing and community development shall establish the amounts of said subsidies so that payment thereof and of any other commitments from this item shall not exceed the amount appropriated herein, including any balance that may be made available from the prior fiscal year

For interest subsidies for the private development of affordable housing; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, no new commitments shall be entered into during fiscal year 2007 for said fiscal year or any subsequent fiscal years; and provided further, that funds may be allocated by said agency to its existing interest subsidy contracts in a manner as it may determine necessary to maximize the preservation of existing affordable housing units throughout the commonwealth

For a program to provide assistance for homeless families and families at risk of becoming homeless; provided, that the amount of financial assistance shall not exceed $3,000 per family; provided further, that funds may be used for security deposits, first and last months' rent, moving expenses, utility payments, or other uses as determined by the department of housing and community development; provided further, that assistance shall be administered by the department through contracts with the regional non-profit housing agencies; provided further, that no such assistance shall be provided to any family with an income in excess of 50 per cent of the area-wide median income; provided further, that no such assistance shall be provided to any family that has a housing voucher or resides in or is moving to housing that is subsidized as defined by the department; provided further, that prior to authorizing a residential assistance payment for a family, the non-profit housing agency shall make an assessment of whether the payment, with or without additional housing stabilization support, will enable the family to retain its current housing, obtain new housing, or otherwise avoid homelessness; provided further, that in making such assessment the agency shall apply a presumption that the payment will enable a family to retain its housing, obtain new housing, or otherwise avoid homelessness if the family is paying less than or equal to 50 per cent of its income for that housing; provided further, that a family who is paying more than 50 per cent of its income for its housing shall be provided a fair opportunity to establish that a residential assistance payment will enable it to retain its housing, obtain new housing, or otherwise avoid homelessness; provided further, that residential assistance payments may be made through direct vendor payments according to standards to be established by the department; provided further, that the agencies shall establish a system for referring families approved for residential assistance payments who the agencies determine would benefit from such services to existing community-based programs that provide additional housing stabilization supports, including assistance in obtaining housing subsidies and locating alternative housing that is safe and affordable for those families; and provided further, that the program shall be administered under guidelines established by the department

For a pilot program to establish a statewide Individual Development Account (IDA) program, so-called, for households in state-subsidized housing, as defined by the department, for more than three years; provided, that funds may be awarded to community-based organizations to establish local IDA programs; provided further, that funds may be used for administrative costs to operate an IDA program for financial literacy and asset-specific training and as a match for program participant savings for qualified acquisition costs with respect to a qualified principal residence for a qualified first-time homebuyer, as defined by the department; provided further, that funds may be used to secure federal asset building program funds; and provided further, that the department shall develop program guidelines to carry out the provisions of this item

The department of housing and community development is hereby authorized to expend for the administration and monitoring of the low-income housing tax credit and local administration programs an amount not to exceed $2,000,000 from fees collected pursuant to said programs; provided, that notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the department may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate therefor as reported in the state accounting system

2,000,000

Federal Grant Spending

405,734,684

Lead-Based Paint Control Program

7004-0304

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Lead-Based Paint Control Program

2,000,000

Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons

7004-2030

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons

6,471,361

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

7004-2033

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

81,100,577

Community Service Block Grant

7004-2034

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Community Service Block Grant

17,110,304

Small Cities Community Development Block Grant

7004-3037

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Small Cities Community Development Block Grant

43,442,442

Substantial Rehabilitation Program for Section 8 Housing

7004-9009

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Substantial Rehabilitation Program for Section 8 Housing

9,400,000

Federal Housing Voucher Program

7004-9014

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Federal Housing Voucher Program

200,000,000

Moderate Rehabilitation Program for Section 8 Housing

7004-9019

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Moderate Rehabilitation Program for Section 8 Housing

7,600,000

New Construction Program for Section 8 Housing

7004-9020

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, New Construction Program for Section 8 Housing

6,435,000

Home Investment Partnerships

7004-9028

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Home Investment Partnerships

32,000,000

Home Technical Assistance

7004-9039

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Home Technical Assistance

150,000

Shelter Plus Care for Lowell

7004-9051

For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Shelter Plus Care for Lowell